Dobrolyubov Avenue in Saint Petersburg — online webcam

Dobrolyubov Avenue: From Alexandrovsky to the Present Day

This live webcam opens up a view of one of the most architecturally intact sections of the Petrograd Side — Dobrolyubov Avenue. The avenue is just over 900 meters long, running from Kronverksky Avenue to Bolshoy Avenue of the Petrograd Side. The route was laid out in the 1860s along the filled-in channel of the Zhdanovka River — today this waterway is hidden beneath the asphalt, but it is precisely what shaped the unique terrain of the area.

Originally the avenue bore the name Alexandrovsky — the name was assigned on March 5, 1877 in honor of Emperor Alexander II. On October 6, 1923, it was renamed Dobrolyubov Avenue — in honor of Nikolai Alexandrovich Dobrolyubov (1836–1861) — revolutionary, philosopher, and literary critic whose brilliant career unfolded right here in Saint Petersburg.

Exchange Bridge: Steel Arch over the Malaya Neva

At the center of the broadcast is the Exchange Bridge, spanning the Malaya Neva between Exchange Square on Vasilyevsky Island and Academician Likhachev Square on the Petrograd Side. The first bridge at this location was built in 1893–1894 to a design by engineer N. M. Mazurov and named after the Exchange that once stood here. From October 1918 it was called Builders' Bridge, and the historical name was later restored.

The Exchange Bridge is one of two drawbridges connecting Vasilyevsky Island with the Petrograd Side. When it is in the raised position, navigation on the Malaya Neva is open, and from the shore you can watch motor ships and yachts pass through. During the navigation season, the bridge openings occur regularly, becoming a true Saint Petersburg spectacle.

Peter and Paul Fortress: Cradle of the City

In the background of the camera rises the Peter and Paul Fortress — the oldest architectural monument of Saint Petersburg. May 27, 1703, the day of its founding, is considered the birthday of the city. The citadel has a six-pointed star shape — an idea of Peter I, who personally participated in its design.

The main dominant of the fortress is the spire of the Peter and Paul Cathedral, reaching 122.5 meters in height. The stone cathedral was built from 1712 to 1733 under the direction of architect Domenico Trezzini. For over 200 years — from 1733 to 1952 — it remained the tallest building in Russia. At the top of the spire shines a gilded angel with a cross — the figure appeared here in 1724 and became the symbol of the Northern Capital.

Rostral Columns and the Spit Ensemble

In the foreground, on the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island, stand the Rostral Columns — two monumental red pillars built in 1805–1810 by architect Thomas de Thomon. They adorn the eastern tip of the island, where the Neva splits into the Bolshaya Neva and Malaya Neva.

The columns are called "rostral" from the Latin word rostrum — the prow of a ship. At their base are sculptures symbolizing the great rivers of Russia, and at the top oil lamps once burned, lighting the way for ships. Today, on holidays, gas torches are lit on the columns — one of the most solemn rituals in Saint Petersburg.

Architectural Gems of the Avenue

Dobrolyubov Avenue is a true open-air museum of Art Nouveau. Here, the intact early 20th-century development has been preserved, where every building is an architectural monument:

Building No. 1/79 — the mansion of glass manufacturer Ivan Yefimovich Riting, built in 1899–1900 to a design by architect Vasily Vasilyevich Schaub. A four-story building with a faceted bay window on the cut corner and gables with truncated half-hipped roofs.

Building No. 19 — an apartment house of the "Stroitel" Joint Stock Company in the Northern Art Nouveau style. Architect Gervits lived here from 1914 until the fire of 1918. It was in this building that iconic scenes from the film "Brother" were shot — the famous marble entrance hall with columns was restored with funds from local residents.

Cultural Traces: From Tsoi to "Brother"

Dobrolyubov Avenue preserves the memory of key figures of Russian culture. In building No. 8/1, a flat concert by Viktor Tsoi took place — the founder of Russian rock, whose songs still echo through the streets of Saint Petersburg.

Building No. 19 became a movie star thanks to the film "Brother" by director Alexei Balabanov. The marble entrance hall with columns is one of the most recognizable filming locations in Russian cinema history. Today it is not possible to enter inside, but the building's facade remains just as the camera captured it.

In building No. 7/2 is located the Mytninsky Garden with fairy-tale sculptures — a popular place for walks among locals and tourists.

Zhdanovka River: Hidden Terrain

Few people know that Dobrolyubov Avenue was laid directly along the channel of the filled-in Zhdanovka River. This waterway once separated Petrograd Island and neighboring territories, creating a complex network of channels. In the 1860s, the river was filled in, and on its site appeared a street that later became an avenue.

Because of this origin, the area was historically prone to flooding — when water levels rose in the Neva, this part of the Petrograd Side was among the first to be inundated. Today, engineering infrastructure handles this challenge, but the memory of the river remains in the terrain and place names.

Why You Should Watch This Camera

This webcam in real time shows a unique panorama of Saint Petersburg: from the raised Exchange Bridge to the spire of the Peter and Paul Fortress. In one frame — three eras of the city: the imperial development of the Spit, the Stalinist neoclassicism of the bridge, and the modern life of the Petrograd Side.

The camera operates in real time, allowing you to observe traffic on the avenue, the bridge opening, and the changing lighting along the embankments. In the evening hours, the Rostral Columns glow with warm light, and the fortress spire is illuminated, creating one of the most photogenic views of the Northern Palmyra.

What You Can See on the Camera

The online camera broadcasts a view of the Exchange Bridge in the raised (lifted) position. In the background, the Peter and Paul Fortress rises majestically with its 122-meter cathedral spire. On the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island, the Rostral Columns are visible — red monuments with gas torches. The waters of the Malaya Neva separate the Petrograd and Vasilyevsky sides. In the bottom part of the image is the broadcast watermark. The scene is styled with an orange-yellow gradient filter, giving the frame a warm mood.